Safeguarding Policy Aim Ark Alpha is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Policy Staff and volunteers recognise their responsibility to provide an environment that promotes the safety of the children at all times. This safeguarding children policy is based on guidelines and legislation outlined in the following documents: Children Act 1989. Data Protection Act 1998. Protection of children Act 1999. Children Act (every Child Matters) 2004. Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 Keeping Children Safe in Education Further guidance: Portsmouth Children's Trust and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children's Board Protocol and Guidance 2014. Working together to safeguard children March 2015. What to do if you're worried a child is being abused - advice for practitioners March 2015 Keeping Children Safe in Education July 2015 The common Assessment Framework. The Prevent duty guidance for England and Wale Contacts Ark Alpha Nursery, Designated Officers for Safeguarding Children: Chris Kone Julie Ayrton Mandy Rutledge Anne H-Chapman Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) : 0845 671 0271 / 023 9268 8793 Emergency out of hours: 0300 555 1373 Police (non-emergency): 0845 045 4545 Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): 023 92882500 Ofsted: (0300) 123 1231 Procedure Staff, apprentices and volunteers
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Safeguarding Policy
Aim
Ark Alpha is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to
share this commitment.
Policy
Staff and volunteers recognise their responsibility to provide an environment that promotes the safety of the
children at all times.
This safeguarding children policy is based on guidelines and legislation outlined in the following documents:
Children Act 1989.
Data Protection Act 1998.
Protection of children Act 1999.
Children Act (every Child Matters) 2004.
Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Further guidance:
Portsmouth Children's Trust and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children's Board Protocol and Guidance
2014.
Working together to safeguard children March 2015.
What to do if you're worried a child is being abused - advice for practitioners March 2015
Keeping Children Safe in Education July 2015
The common Assessment Framework.
The Prevent duty guidance for England and Wale
Contacts
Ark Alpha Nursery, Designated Officers for Safeguarding Children:
of the allegations being made. Contact should be made via email, using the 'LADO NOTIFICATION FORM'
contained in this policy.
d) Allegations will be treated seriously and the decision to inform parents or carers, if they do not already
know, will be made in conjunction with the LADO. In circumstances where the Police or children's social
care is involved, the LADO will consult with these agencies as to how the parents should be informed.
e) The person of concern (POC) will be informed of the allegation as soon as appropriate after the DOSC has
consulted with the LADO. In circumstances where a strategy meeting is required with Police and children's
social care, the POC should not be informed until those agencies have agreed that information can be
disclosed to the individual. If the person is a member of a union or professional association, they should be
advised to seek support from that organisation. At this stage consideration should be given to appropriate
employee support e.g. directed to their GP.
f) A full investigation of the allegation will be carried out by the appropriate agencies in liaison with the LADO
and the DOSC.
g) In some cases, where there is immediate risk of harm posed to children or vulnerable adults by a POC,
consideration will be given to looking at alternative temporary arrangement (i.e. gardening leave, time away
from the place of employment, alternative duties, suspension). This decision should be taking in line with
your organisation HR policy and advice.
h) The LADO will chair meetings to consider the strategy and action plan. The action plan will be reviewed
through meetings until the conclusion of the investigation. The LADO's role is to monitor and oversee the
investigation and conclusion of the case. At conclusion of the case there will be one of four outcomes:
Substantiated - there is sufficient identifiable evidence to prove the allegation;
False - there is sufficient evidence to disprove the allegation;
Malicious - there is sufficient evidence to disprove the allegation and there has been a deliberate act to
deceive;
Unsubstantiated - there is insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation. The term,
therefore, does not imply guilt or innocence.
(Keeping children safe in education - Statutory guidance for schools and colleges July 2015)
i) If a substantiated allegation is serious enough to warrant dismissal, the LADO will consider whether referral
to the Disclosure and Barring Service, Ofsted and the registered body is required.
j) If it is decided on conclusion of the investigation that the member of staff should return to work, the
appropriate manager will consider how best to facilitate this. Help and support will be provided to the
individual to return to work and depending on the individual’s circumstances, a phased return with the
provision of a mentor will be considered.
k) On the conclusion of a case in which an allegation is substantiated, the [management of the organisation] will
oversee a review of the circumstances of the case to determine whether there are any improvements
to be made to the organisations procedures or practice to help prevent similar events in the
future.
Supervision, monitoring and development
The aim of line management supervision is to provide an accountable process which supports, assures and
develops the knowledge, skills and values of an individual, group or team. The functions of supervision will
be addressed in the supervisory process in the following ways;
To ensure that the worker carries out those responsibilities to a professional standard.
To carry out a formal appraisal.
To assist in every way with the professional development of the worker including identification of
learning needs in order to fulfil their roles and responsibilities.
To be a primary source of staff care for the worker.
To mediate for the worker with colleagues, the organisation and other stakeholders.
Those responsible for supervising front-line practitioners working with children and families will ensure
that there is appropriate case-work supervision in place which supports staff and volunteers in their role.
Case-work supervision is an essential component of practice governance and as such performs a valuable
role in supporting and challenging practitioners to develop their skills and improve their practice. An
appropriately experienced and qualified supervisor aims to enable the practitioner to achieve, sustain and
creatively develop a high quality of practice through the means of focused support and development.
Supervisors adopt a facilitative approach to supporting and developing practitioners learning through the
exploration of attitudes, beliefs, behaviours and procedures, and challenging assumptions which will enable
practitioners to contribute to ensuring safe, high quality interventions for our children and families.
Case-work supervision is not to be confused with line management supervision, which has a separate and
unique function that is not the same as case-work supervision. The primary focus of case-work
supervision is the professional development of the practitioner and safeguarding standards.
As such, Ark Alpha is committed to ensuring that:
All staff, apprentices and volunteers have regular line management supervision appropriate to their
role. This is delivered on a one to one basis.
All staff, apprentices and volunteers will be required to attend relevant training to ensure that they are
competent and confident in carrying out their responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting children’s
welfare.
Training will be appropriate to the area or level of work in relation to children and families and will vary
according to individual roles. Line managers will review this on a regular basis during performance review
and regular supervision sessions. As a minimum, all staff, apprentices and volunteers will attend mandatory
basic
Safeguarding training that will equip them to recognise and respond to child welfare concerns and provide
them with:
A clear understanding of what to do when they have a concern.
Knowledge of how to work as part of a multi-agency or multi-disciplinary team when dealing with child protection or safeguarding issues.
A clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to identifying, assessing,
reporting and recording in the event they have concerns about a child.
An understanding of the statutory requirements in relation to confidentiality, consent and information sharing and how to apply these in relation to a particular child about whom they have
concerns.
Additional and particular training will be provided for those where it is appropriate and relevant to their
job role in relation to:
The Single Assessment Framework (SAF) (integrated workforce).
Safe recruitment and vetting.
Child protection and substance misuse, domestic violence and children with disabilities.
Managing allegations against staff.
Leading integrated working & safeguarding practice.
Looked After Children.
Confidentiality.
All staff, apprentices and volunteers will undertake suitable refresher training at three yearly intervals to keep their
knowledge and skills up-to-date. In addition, they will be expected to access the written policies and procedures in
relation to safeguarding as part of their initial induction, which will include details of the designated officer for
safeguarding.
Camera, Mobile phone and recording devices
The setting forbids the use of personal cameras, mobile telephones and recording devices by staff members,
students and volunteers whilst on duty.
All staff, students and volunteers who are working with children are required to switch off any mobile
phones, personal cameras and recording devices and hand them into the office to be stored on
commencement of duty.
Staff members, students and volunteers may access their personal devices whilst off duty and not on the
premises, for example during lunch breaks.
Any member of staff who does not comply with the ‘camera, mobile phone and recording device policy’ will
be dealt with in line with the settings grievance and disciplinary procedures.
Children will only be photographed or recorded by the use of a camera/recording device that has been
agreed by the *manager/*leader. Children will only be photographed or recorded if parental consent has
been obtained.
Parents and visitors are informed that the use of mobile phones within the setting is not allowed and this is
done when they sign in on the visitors system and wear the printed badge in the main school reception
before they enter the setting. Parents and visitors seen using their mobile phone will immediately be
challenged by a member of staff who will ask them to terminate the use and if necessary escort them off the
premises where they can use their mobile phone safely.
Whistle Blowing
Ark Alpha Nursery also has whistle blowing guidance for serious concerns, such as:
Breach of the law or committing an offence.
Unauthorised or misappropriation of public funds.
Suspected fraudulent activities.
Approaches of bribery.
Physical or sexual abuse of clients.
This guidance is for all staff, apprentice or volunteer working at Ark Alpha Nursery.
You can of course raise any matter anonymously, but if you do not share who you are it will be much more difficult
to look into the matter. It means it will be difficult to clarify understanding of the issues raised, or able to protect
your position, or to let you know the outcome. It will also mean that it is more difficult to provide you with the
same support and assurances.
You do not need to have firm evidence before raising a concern, but you will need to provide as much information
as possible. The earlier you raise a concern the easier it is to resolve it.
Staff, apprentices or volunteers must acknowledge their individual responsibilities to bring matters of concern to the
attention of the [delete as appropriate - manager / supervisor / committee chair / owner and/or relevant agencies].
Although this can be difficult this is particularly important where the welfare of children may be at risk.
You may be the first to recognise that something is wrong but may not feel able to express your concern out of a
feeling that this would be disloyal to colleagues or you may fear harassment or victimisation. These feelings, however
natural, must never result in a child or young person continuing to be unnecessarily at risk. Remember it is often the
most vulnerable children or young people who are targeted. These children need someone like you to safeguard
their welfare.
Don't think what if I am wrong - think what if I am right.
Reasons for whistle blowing Each individual has a responsibility for raising concerns about unacceptable practice or behaviour.
To prevent the problem worsening or widening.
To protect or reduce risks to others.
To prevent becoming implicated yourself.
What stops people from whistleblowing? Starting a chain of events which spirals.
Disrupting the work or project.
Fear of getting it wrong.
Fear of repercussions or damaging careers.
Fear of not being believed.
How to raise a concern You should voice your concerns, suspicions or uneasiness as soon as you feel you can. The earlier a concern
is expressed the easier and sooner it is possible for action to be taken.
Try to pinpoint what practice is concerning you and why.
Approach someone you trust and who you believe will respond.
Make sure you get a satisfactory response - don't let matters rest.
Put your concerns in writing.
Discuss your concerns with manager
If the concern relates to the welfare of children and you are not able to discuss with your manager you
should contact the LADO directly.
A member of staff is not expected to prove the truth of an allegation, but you will need to demonstrate
sufficient grounds for the concern.
The manager will undertake an investigation into your concerns and offer you support. Where this relates to
the welfare of children this will be in conjunction with the LADO, as per the 'managing allegations against
staff' guidance.
People to contact Chris Kone - Deputy Manager/ Safeguarding Officer 02392 829899
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): 023 92882500
Ofsted: (0300) 123 1231
Reviewed January 2018
Date of next review: January 2019
Action when a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm
Sharing/ recording concerns – anyone who has concerns in school who has concerns about a child shares them with
their manager/ safeguarding lead. Recording is made.
If there are concerns that there
is a risk of immediate serious
harm, referral should be made to
CSC/police immediately.
Anyone can make a
referral.
Referral to MASH- Anyone/ safeguarding lead refers to MASH, following up in writing
within 48 hours
MASH consideration – CSC decide in one working day what action will be taken, including an assessment if needed and
feedback to the referrer
Assessment – CSC complete an assessment within 45 days of the referral – it could be a
section 17 or 47
No referral to MASH – Safeguarding lead/ staff member should monitor the situation, use early
help process (SAF/ TAC)
If the child’s situation does not appear to be improving or there
are further concerns about significant harm, the referrer
should press for re-consideration by MASH
No assessment by CSC – if no section 17 or 47 assessment is recommended, an early help assessment may be recommended and /or
referral to universal/ specialist services – CSC/ MASH will feedback to the referrer – MASH may